Panthers share way to win

The holiday season is bringing the best out of the Mead girls basketball team.

The Panthers shared the ball and shared the ball again as they pulled away from the short-handed Ferris Saxons 75-53 Thursday at Gilman Court in Greater Spokane League play.

Senior point guard Jade Redmon was at the top of Mead’s giving tree as she dished out 10 assists to go with a team-high 16 points, six rebounds and two steals. The sharing translated into four other Panthers also scoring in double figures.

“I think we’re a lot more balanced this year and we’re trying to look for each other and make sure everybody gets that open pass,” Redmon said. “We’re trying to make it easy on ourselves.”

“Sometimes we give up open shots, but I’d rather have that instead of everybody trying to force a shot,” Redmon said. “At least we’re looking for each other.”

Mead coach Quantae Anderson agrees.

“This team wants to pass the ball,” Anderson said. “They like to pass and they like to pass it to the open person. They don’t care who scores, they care that Mead scores.”

Ferris (5-3, 3-3), playing without leading scorer Brittney Johnson who sprained an ankle Tuesday, gave Mead fits for a half.

The Saxons led 20-15 at the end of the first quarter, but Mead used a 14-5 surge to close out the first half with a 38-30 lead.

It was all Mead in the second half.

Redmond had lots of help. Delaney Junkermier had 15 points, Ashlyn Lewey poured in 14, Mackenzie McPhee had 13 to go with 11 rebounds and Morgan Douglass, in her third game back from a hamstring injury, added 10 on 5-of-5 shooting. And Sue Winger had seven rebounds and four assists.

Jill Louthian came off the bench to lead Ferris with 17 points and Abby Liss scored 14.

“She (Johnson) wanted to play but the doctor said no and I said no,” Ferris coach Rob Coulter said. “We should get her back after the holidays.”